So, I have been flying (static) every chance I can since getting my 4m scout 1 about a month and a half ago. I have logged around 20 hours on the thing and am feeling quite good flying in anything under 15 knotts. Most of the time I am just waiting for more wind and more power so I can get some good :wee: going.

We do not have a lot of choice of wind up here, its either trying to get to 10 Knots or it is ripping at 20+, not a lot of in between. So when it gets into the 18-20's I try to jump on it, but the problem is my kite feels erratic, rippy and loafty (all terms I had never known the meaning of until just recently). One issue I had last night (20 Knots) was I had my AOA cranked high due to low wind flying the time before (beginner mistake), but I wonder is my little kite to small for the bigger winds (18+ knots)?

When it gets this high, I am so nervous that I wonder if there is real concern or am I just lacking the stones?

I get that it maybe just above my skill level, but it almost feels like its either or with no in between.

To add to this, I also have a 13m Bomba which I pulled out as it seems to be a "gentle Giant" (when I can get it up). I got it set up and brought it up about 10 feet (bringing it in the green zone at about 60 degrees) and I chickened out before trying to bring it into zenith. Now, I was all alone and I have never had the thing over 10-12 knotts, and I doubt I was in very much risk of a spank, but was i over my head ?

My last question is a simple one.. am I nervous and worried because I am flying static and that when I actually get onto a board, this worry will go away as I will want to be dragged?

Or am I completely wrong and I should just have a beer, nut up and take the plunge?

I also am somewhat of a rookie, but I have been flying a bit more than a year in your same type of conditions (Northern Montana) with the same kite (Scout II 4m). I agree, that it can get a bit erratic in our Chinook winds, and when it grabs, it can really make your heart start thumping.

I have found that when I am moving on skis that it is not as pronounced. It's like the kite has something to do now. You also have more ways to absorb the gusts, by moving a bit faster or slower, and either giving up a little ground, or taking up slack.

I have cut loose several times. Especially static. It is really easier than getting dragged. Dont be hesitant to pull the safety. EVER!

Also, yes it is something that takes time to get used to. I wanted to be able to just rip around behind the kite like on all the video's, but I found I wasn't comfortable with it at first. Pucker factor kicks in. Each session gets better though, and now I can move around where I want almost without thinking about it.

Keep at it. Go with what you are comfortable with.

the more you do it the better things get, high wind sessions are always a little edgey esp. to start with. choose a smaller kite, always check forecast , get a good feel for the breeze you're gonna be in .. bumpy, gusty winds are rough, hard to read and static is the gonna be the roughest.

practice practice practice , and know your limits and safety releases. stay in the winds your comfortable with for sure like 15-20 and when gusts are huge 15-35+ choose wisely and kite another day.

This sport still scares the crap out of me. Just heading out to a location puts my senses on high. It is the most appealing part of it ! Learn to respect and listen to that fear.

I agree . The Scout has such easy recovery that getting used to letting go will be helpfull in pushing things comfortably. It is alll about getting fly time right now ( and always ) . When winds are strong think less about flying through the window and things . Think more about keeping it near the edge and playing safely with the lift.

Try and get a helper to get going with that Bomba. Once again fly time will make you more and more comfortable.

I wish I knew what my comfort zone was on the bomba, right now it is pretty much way to much or not enough to get a pull out of it.

with the 15cm (6") of snow coming, sunday should be a good day to get some soft padded time in. If I get my board, maybe I will make use of the slower times to learn to snowboard.

" The Scout has such easy recovery that getting used to letting go will be helpfull in pushing things comfortably. "

Open question,

I hate having the kill strap on my wrist, I feel like I still get dragged even when letting go (not as much as holding onto the bar, but not a safe feeling either).

Is this normal? I thought it should sorta implode.

do most people fly with it on, or just simply let it go and pick up the pieces?

My setup was similar . A 3 line JoJo trainer.

When I let go it would hit with such force I snapped the line. I started to hook it up to my harness .

I have an HQ hydra that also has the wrist safety. I found that in strong winds it would still generate decent pull after letting go of the bar. It actually drug my girlfriend down the field once until I caught up with her to hold the safety leash.

solution: make the center (safety) line shorter by attaching it to one of the knots closer to the kite. Or modify the knot so the bar can move further down the line. I did both.

Now I have to control myself to not pull on it too much when reverse launching so it doesn't collapse. But that's better than having it over power you even if you let go of the bar.

Quote:

My last question is a simple one.. am I nervous and worried because I am flying static and that when I actually get onto a board, this worry will go away as I will want to be dragged?

Yes. Don't know about a landboard, but in a buggy I need FAR more power out of the kite than I'm comfortable static flying with. The only time I would attempt to static fly in 20 knots is on sand where I can scud with relative safety. But for me, 20knots is just too much like hard work/survival to static fly in. Completely different story once in the buggy - I can use all that power and convert it into forward motion and have a blast in the process.

20hrs is not a lot when you consider you're trying to train yourself to react to something instinctively and not have to think about it. Progress as slowly as you feel comfortable - don't let anyone push you into doing stuff you're unsure about.

Have you given some thought to a change of control method.

I have a Scout 4m and had it a few years, at times it felt very odd at times flying it on a bar.

I changed it to handles and the response was rather amazing, it enjoyed a bit of brake input and wanted to surge forward.

Give handles a go and see for yourself

i fly static 80% of the time. There are alot of times when a 4m is too big. You can switch to a 3m or even a 2m depending on what kind of thrills you want and how high a wind you want to fly in. For static they are great sizes to get started with.

+1 for handles to give ya more control!:bigok::wee:

I agree with JH and wapti97. As you convert the energy from the kite into controlled motion you get a lot more comfortable with the power (and the power surges from gusty Prairie winds).

I still find it scarey to pull out my 13m Venom on a day when I would never consider flying my 5.5m ProFoil or even a 3m. Once you have an arc launched get it to the zenith and get used to it floating up there. It can take a bit of work - in lower winds I have to redirect a lot to prevent it from overflying. I pull the depower strap in and gradually let it out as I get moving and get a feel for the power needed.

The best way to learn is doing it. Start in lower winds and let your confidence build. Know your safety systems and practice using them. Check B13 for your weight in the Peter Lynn Arc Wind Range calculator

In the words of Yoda, I did not, there was no try.

We finally got snow and some good, steady wind 12Knots or so. I was comfortable with the 13m in the wind and was confident my scudd and lifting practice had paid off enough that I could at least pull myself a few feet on a snow board.

I laid out the lines, inflated the kite and got ready to launch. I strapped my self into my new (cheap) board and realized my wife was right, I have a bit to much "spare" on my tire so it was a quite hard to bend over and do up the bindings.

There I was, all set, ready for my first launch. I pulled up on the lines at the same moment there was a small lull in the wind and the kite flopped over in a way that a relaunch was not possible. You cannot imaging the deflating feeling of having to go through the binding thing all over again.

Now remembering everything I read and watched online regarding launching a kite and then putting on the board, I decide to give this a try. 5 minutes later the kite is in the air and board on my feet, I lay down and take a much needed nap in the middle of the field as the kite floats in zenith, mocking me.

As I get ready for my first launch I realize that not only do I not know a thing about how to snow board, but I also have no idea what to do to get to that point. I know I have to pull myself off the ground and start snow boarding, but there is no way my body or muscles know how to do this and I reconsider my abilities in this sport and wonder if I should just stick with kite flier.

For the next 30 minutes, the wind starts to die and I am reduced to what I can only imaging looks like a mix between a turtle power up from Mario cart sliding around a field and a razor blade chopping up a coke dealers next hit as I re-adjust myself.

Yup, kite 1 dignity 0

Don't give up! Gather and consolidate your skills and put in the hours, you WILL get there!

Long version:

Any time you board / buggy / do the controlled motion thing you need better conditions than just for a static fly, and so your chances getting skunked or having a bad session go way up. And your quiver is minimal so your chances are made higher. Many of us have a lot of kites for just this reason, it's not that we like to drink a beer and look at all the toys...

I got a landboard a while back, but had no previous board skills of any kind. So I started out really slow, gentle hills, barely walking pace, learning how to ride it slow. Took it up a bit further, broke my tailbone a couple times. The next winter I had the chance to snowboard for a few days up in Smithers, BC. I had a bit of downhill skiing experience, but it took a couple days to get past the point of doing the chickened-out heelside snowplow and actually start linking the turns heelside to toeside. Over the next year I was able get a handful of sessions in with fixed bridle (no harness) and landboard, and now I'm mowing the lawn with confidence, going upwind well, and getting big powerslides on my transitions. This summer the goal is to mix in harness and arcs -- looking forwards to it, but I know I'll look the fool a few times.

My point being that I had no board skills and had to get some before linking my board with my kites. Once I had some, then I was able to figure things out, but slowly, a step at a time, and it hasn't exactly been the lightning-fast progression some folks seem to enjoy.

Oh and I should point out that once you do get moving, you'll realize that you can't watch where you're going and watch the kite at the same time... You'll need to be able to fly your kite without looking at it. The split awareness needed while on the move is a real mind-bender the first time you encounter it. You really do need to learn to fly your kite blind, and this need is not apparent while flying static.

Last thing: I haven't yet put together my depowers with the board. Reason being: there's no safety as good as being able to let go of a fixed bridle, and since I've been static jumping on them confidently for years, I wanted to stay in my FB comfort zone while learning to board. Conventional wisdom on this forum, however, is that it's easier to learn kiteboarding with a depower. (..and so I'm hoping for a fun, quick transition to my arcs...) However, depower requires a harness, and I can't just let go of my harness.

All this is my path, it will not be your path.

/yoda voice/ Your path only you can choose.

Chose your path, celebrate each step for yourself, and don't give up... You'll get there!

One gal over here that I know started, like you, learning how to snowboard while learning how to snowkite...had never even skied before. Last year she won her division on the North American Snowkite Tour...